Lone voice in the wilderness

By Tim Walker and Damien Brown

While Green's leader Nick McKim has fielded questions over their support for the amended Tasmanian Forests Bill, the party's dissenting spokesperson for forestry, Kim Booth believes the bill is an attack on democracy.

While supportive of the creation of new reserves, he is most concerned about the amendments that will increase penalties for protesters.

In a wide ranging interview, he discussed his party's view on possible changes to feed in tariffs for owners of solar panels, the departure of Forestry Tasmania's Bob Gordon, and the passing of legislation to implement the forest agreement.

While his four state parliament colleagues voted for the amended Tasmanian Forests Bill, Mr Booth has described it as, "An absolute mutation of the forest bill that went before the Legislative Council."

"I think they stepped way out of their ambit to ammend the bill to the point where they've introduced extrordinary provisions and mechanisms that I just simply could not support as a representative of the people of Bass."

"Any legislation that seeks to fetter or punish the fundamental basic democratic rights to protest by then not reserving areas of ecological importance is just a step way too far."

"The legislation also contemplates logging, or provides for legislation to allow for logging in reserves, and that also is completely unacceptable."

Feed in Tariff

While the state government reviews the feed in tariff for solar grid connect owners in Tasmania, concerns expressed by solar panel owners and businesses that any reduction in the feed in tariff would be an unfair change for those that have already bought a system for their household.

Mr Booth is concerned that, "Some of these retailers have actually misled consumers into thinking that they had a contract with Aurora."

Any reduction in the tariff will increase the power costs for consumers with solar panels connected to the electricity grid, undermining the economic viability of the choice they made to have it installed.

"Our position is there ought be a 'one to one' feed in tariff for two years post the point of proclaimation of the bill."

Forestry Tasmania

Commenting on the changes to Forestry Tasmania's leadership, Mr Booth was circumspect about news that Forestry Tasmania's Managing Director Bob Gordon will leave the government enterprise in July.

"You could almost say the changes that have occurred in forestry over the last couple of years has been like the end of the dinosaurs, really."

"This change had to come, I think it is way past time that public subsidies were withdrawn, and that the forestry industry has to stand on its own two feet."

"It will be really critical that the reform of Forestry Tasmania is a cultural change from the bottom to the top that makes sure that the organisation is no longer a resource plunderer, but in all aspects focus on sustainability, environmental protection and providing a return to the taxpayer."

Listen to the full interview with Kim Booth by clicking on the audio tab to the right.